Great location. Wonderful accommodations. Fully equipped kitchen. However, the meals at the restaurant were below standard. We would strongly suggest you bring food to prepare in your room. We would definitely return!

Samana is fairly remote but tends to attract tourists during whale season (late January to March). There are few deluxe hotel options in the area (unless you travel to Las Terrenas). The Hotel Bannister is the exception. The Hotel is quiet with a great view of the water. A number of boats sail in and dock at the Marina, which adds to the charm. The staff was attentive and there were two excellent restaurants and a bar on site. If you are looking to relax in comfort, this is a top notch hotel. We were in the area on business but I would return for a vacation as well.

A Traveller

Peaceful, relaxing and totally exclusive, The Bannister Hotel overlooks a stunning marina in Samana Bay in one of the most …More

I was traveling with my sister and we inquired about separate beds upon arrival since our room was supposed to have a single king-size bed...and then they upgraded us to a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment! We were so thrilled and really enjoyed the hammock on our porch. The staff was all super nice, the pool and swim-up bar were great and the pool was open 24 hours minus one hour in the early morning for cleaning. The restaurant menu had a good amount of variety and we were perfectly happy with our meals...the grilled mahi-mahi was particularly delicious, as was the fresh strawberry daiquiri. We looked forward to the solid breakfast buffet (ripe pineapple, among many other tasty things!) every morning and it's great that you have a wide range of time in which to drop in. The beach, pool, and room service were so decadent. And the beach itself...wow. So pretty. The palm trees are so picturesque everywhere and the breeze was wonderful. Towards the right side of the beach there's a sandy, seaweed-free path into the deeper water, and I swam my heart out. I also had a facial at the spa and my sis and I got the reflexology treatment...they did a great job and the environment was really relaxing. All in all, we couldn't have had a better time -- I was so sad to leave! It was really easy and quick to get there in a taxi from the Samana airport, too.

We had an absolute magical time in the Dominican and I am very glad we chose to stay at Casa Grande. The staff was very nice and the owner went out of her way to make us feel special. Because there are only 7 rooms there, it has a quiet and intimate feel to it. There were many times we were literally the only people there sunning on our own private garden by the beach. The food was delicious ( you HAVE to try the lobster spaghetti), the grounds were well maintained and the room was clean. There is a guy named Ronaldo who speaks very good English and he is there every day from 9-1. He can help with anything! He set up our excursions, gave us directions, rented our motorcycle, etc. He is a huge asset to the place.
The only downfalls were that the staff speaks very limited English. Owner knows a little but through pointing and charades, we were able to get anything we needed. Also, the water was only hot 1 night we were there. I have heard this is typical in the Dominican but I am used to my scorching American showers. Lastly, the free wifi is great and picks up nicely in the area with the bar and eating, but it spotty in the room (at least in ours-#6) and as you get closer to the beach to sit. I would have liked to have been able to play games online, watch tv shows, etc when I was chilling in my room but the signal wasn't strong enough. There is a small tv inside which only has 1 American channel but that didn't bother me because we didn't need a tv on vacation.

Very nice experience at Sarah's tropical escape...she works hard, is warm and enthusiastic and you feel like she's happy to have you. The rooms and chalets are very unique with unusual woody details... The breakfast's were hardy and she seems to have a knack for picking nice people to work for her. We'll be back!

The hotel location is supreme. The price was great. This hotel caters to the Dominican people on holiday or up for the weekend. It was quite loud over the weekend. The owner speaks English and keeps good care of the hotel. Don't drink at the bar. The bar tender (I suspect the wife or relative) shorts the drinks and is clueless about making them. Better options and prices exist further up the beach. The bed was okay but I had a hard time sleeping, waking with very stiff hips. The bathroom was...well a bathroom in a minimalist sort of way. The rooms are all situated with a great view and balcony. This is right across from the beach with a very small paved road in between. Very walkable to town but far enough away to be quiet (as long as the other guests are not partying in their rooms).

Transportation to and Around Samana

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